SECTION 131.15. Committees

(a) The board chair shall appoint the following standing committees, composed of four board members at least one of whom is a public member. A committee quorum shall consist of three members. Committee appointments shall be made by the chair for a term of up to two years but may be terminated at any point by the chair. Committee members may be re-appointed at the discretion of the chair. The board chair shall appoint a committee chair.

(1) General Issues Committee. The committee shall meet as required to evaluate issues and possibly develop proposed actions for the full board on issues of importance to the board and the professions. Such issues may include engineering or land surveying ethics, professionalism in practice, legislation, board management, and engineering or land surveying business issues.

(2) Licensing and Registration Committee. The committee shall meet no less than twice each fiscal year to evaluate issues and possibly develop proposed actions for the full board on licensing and registration issues. The committee may participate in activities such as evaluating rules concerning licensing of engineers; licensing and registration of land surveyors; evaluating education and continuing education program requirements; conducting personal interviews of applicants; evaluating applications; participating in national and international engineering and land surveying licensing and registration activities on the board's behalf; providing general guidance to the executive director on licensing and registration issues; and evaluating any other issue indirectly or directly relating to engineering or land surveying licensing and registration.

(3) Compliance and Enforcement Committee. The committee shall meet as required to evaluate issues and possibly develop proposed actions for the full board on enforcement issues. The committee may participate in activities such as evaluating rules concerning enforcement of the Acts; reviewing the progress of enforcement activities; suggesting sanctions for violations of the Acts; participation in national and international engineering and land surveying law enforcement activities on the board's behalf; providing general guidance to the executive director on enforcement issues; evaluating continuing education program requirements; and evaluating any other issue indirectly or directly relating to engineering or land surveying law enforcement.

(4) Policy Advisory Opinion Committee. The committee shall meet as required to review, prepare and recommend policy advisory opinions regarding the interpretation or application of the Engineering Act and to perform related activities pursuant to board approval. The committee shall follow the process and procedures for issuing advisory opinions as prescribed in Subchapter H of this chapter (relating to Advisory Opinions).

(5) Legislative Issues Committee. The committee shall meet as needed to consider legislative matters that may affect the practice of engineering and land surveying in the state. Pursuant to the Chapter 556, Texas Government Code, the committee shall not lobby or strive to influence legislation regarding the practice of engineering but meet to consider board responses to pending legislation and assist in answering related inquiries from the Texas Legislature, Governor or other state agency or governmental entity during the legislative session.

(b) Nominating Committee. The board's chair shall appoint a nominating committee consisting of the chair and two board members to nominate candidates for the offices of vice chair, secretary, and treasurer. The nominating committee shall meet prior to the regular board meeting prior to September 1 of each year to allow election of officers at that meeting.

(c) Ad Hoc Committees. The board chair, full board, or a standing committee may appoint an ad hoc committee to assist in resolving particular issues.

(1) The chair or committee chair shall establish a specific purpose and duration for each ad hoc committee. Ad hoc committees previously appointed may be reappointed in part or in whole for a specific purpose and duration.

(2) Ad hoc committees shall be limited to investigating and evaluating issues assigned, and making a report to the full board or appropriate standing committee with recommendations concerning possible board positions, actions or inactions. The board or appropriate standing committee shall receive the report of each ad hoc committee publicly, and shall recommend appropriate action, if any, to the full board.

(d) Advisory Committees. In accordance with §1001.216, the board shall appoint a Surveying Advisory Committee and may appoint other advisory committees.

(e) Committee actions. The actions of any committee are recommendations only and are not binding until ratification by the board at a regularly scheduled meeting or if authorized by rule.

Source Note: The provisions of this §131.15 adopted to be effective May 20, 2004, 29 TexReg 4871; amended to be effective December 10, 2006, 31 TexReg 9829; amended to be effective March 8, 2007, 32 TexReg 1074; amended to be effective September 10, 2007, 32 TexReg 6152; amended to be effective December 21, 2008, 33 TexReg 10162; amended to be effective July 20, 2009, 34 TexReg 4736; amended to be effective December 19, 2010, 35 TexReg 11257; amended to be effective December 11, 2011, 36 TexReg 8375; amended to be effective March 15, 2018, 43 TexReg 1438; amended to be effective December 24, 2020, 45 TexReg 9202